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Oh
the weather outside is frightful,
but the fire is so delightful,
and
since we've no place to go,
Let
it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!
I've been singing this song on and off
all week. When I woke up last Monday and looked outside, I quickly sent
out an email to the FFC staff and declared our first ever 'Snow Day.' Memories
of no-school 'snow days' from my childhood stirred up an excitement and joy
that almost surprized me... we stoked up the fire, shoveled snow and had a very
enjoyable day.
Good news that brings ‘great joy.’ The
news that we had 16 inches of snow covering our home and city, and that we
could stay home and enjoy the beauty brought ‘great joy.’ I realized that
Monday’s weather conditions launched me into not only a day of joy, but a
season of joy! The ‘real’ good news isn’t weather related, but God related!
Now there were in the same
country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by
night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the
Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to
them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. “For there
is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
“And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling
cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude
of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And
on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:8-14)
Join
me in allowing the Holy Spirit to make the ‘good tidings’ of Christ’s coming be
renewed in our hearts and minds, resulting in ‘great joy’!
Posted at 01:05 PM in Walking with God | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. (Gen 12:2)
As God spoke these words, He announced a dual objective: “I want to make your name great,” and “You shall be a blessing.” God’s promise to make Abraham’s name great was not a promise of fame, but a guarantee He would shape great character in him.
God is not so interested in ‘notoriety’ as He is in the development of the inner qualities of character. The biblical concept of “fame” focuses on the quality of the person’s trustworthiness, integrity and spiritual weight.
That’s important to remember, since today we live in a society which mocks its own habit for “making people famous for nothing more than merely being well known.”
Thus fame today may be acquired through scandal as quickly as through accomplishment.
But Abraham’s name became great through learning a walk of worship and a pathway of persistent pursuit of God’s will. That’s kingdom character! It’s the path to which God calls His people to walk. Greatness in the kingdom of God is very different from greatness as the world around us determines…Jesus said, "whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.” (Mat 20:26)
A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold. (Prov 22:1)
Posted at 02:40 PM in Walking with God | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)